Is it God, or Coincidence

How many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, what a coincidence?” Well, sometimes, I do believe the small happenstances in life might be coincidences. On February 6, 1999, there was no doubt in my mind what my answer to this question would have been if someone asked it of me. For two weeks leading up to this eventful day, I made several unusual choices. I wrote detailed lesson plans, decided not to attend a Girl Scout function, and returned home early that day from plans I made to have a “me” day. As a teacher, I was prepared for my first grade students on a daily basis. After teaching that grade level for a while, I didn’t need to write out extensive lesson plans to meet my daily teaching goals. For some unknown reason to me, two weeks before that day, I wrote such good lesson plans, anyone could follow them to teach my children the necessary skills. I even pre-cut construction paper to have it ready for Valentine boxes my kids were going to make. In the two year period my daughter had been in Girl Scouts, I attended every function, volunteered each time there was a special event, and never dreamed of “taking the day off” from an event. February 6, 1999 was “Thinking Day”, an annual event for the girls. I baked cookies for our Troop to have for the day, but I decided ahead of time not to stay and help out, as I had in the past. Finally, just before noon that day, I decided to drop by a house, the model home, my mom and dad were looking at to

purchase in Newnan. I arrived at the house at 12:15. The agents for the subdivision were gone to lunch, and they left a note they would be back around 1:00. Instead of having fun shopping or driving around, I chose to go back to my house and wait until 1:00 to drive back to see the house. Five minutes after I walked in the door to my home, the phone rang. I might add, I didn’t have a cell phone at that time. The only way I could have been reached at that moment was if I was home to answer the phone. The phone call was from my mother-in-law informing me that she thought my husband, Steve, might be having a heart attack. She tried to get him to agree to go to the hospital; he wouldn’t. I told her to put him on the phone. Fifteen minutes later, I was standing outside Newnan Hospital to help him through the most difficult ordeal of his life. He was in the middle of a moderate heart attack upon arrival. Now for my answer to the question posed at the beginning of this writing. I was off work for two weeks. Someone else taught my classes, made Valentine boxes with my children, picked my daughter from the Girl Scout event, and I saw the house Mama and Daddy were interested in weeks later. Without a doubt, I know it was God. He paved the way for me to be in the right place, at the right time, to be with Steve when he needed me. God is with us always, and leads us if we listen and follow his plan.

By Gayle Barker

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Danny Singleton         6
Martha Tinsley         10
Sharon Mitchel         27
Susan Prisk              27

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Christy & Micah Merino 13

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Paula Deen's
Corn Casserole

Ingredients

1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix (recommended Jiffy)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Shredded Medium Cheddar Cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together the two cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and butter. Pour into a greased casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with generous amount of cheddar cheese and return to oven for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.